Help needed as bills mount

Hannah was struggling to find a job. In the meantime, she and her children had been without electricity for months.

The bills kept piling up as Hannah searched for a solution that would ease her family's financial problems.

A local agency referred Hannah's case to the Athens Banner-Herald Empty Stocking Fund, and she received $300 to help her get caught up on her bills.

The purpose of the fund is to assist local people who cannot be reached by other charities or need more aid than those charities can provide. All recipients have been referred to the Empty Stocking Fund by area agencies.

The total raised by the Athens Banner-Herald Empty Stocking Fund last year reached $54,413.97, an increase from the 2007-08 giving season.

The total raised to date by the Athens Banner-Herald Empty Stocking Fund is $3,481.25. A list of this week's donors will appear in Sunday's Banner-Herald.

The Empty Stocking fundraising campaign is held during the holidays, but the money collected is not used for toys or gifts, and readers may donate throughout the year.

To donate by credit card, log on to the Athens Banner-Herald Web site - www.OnlineAthens.com - and click on the Empty Stocking "Donate Now" button. Credit card donations also may be made by calling the Banner-Herald at (706) 549-0123 and asking for the Empty Stocking Fund.